A MASSIVE wildfire has forced hundreds of villagers to flee their homes near a remote Italian mountain.

The blaze is still raging on Mount Serra in the Pisano regions and and the flames are approaching the village of Calci.

Mayor Massimiliano Ghimenti has ordered villagers to leave their homes and Regional Civil Protection officials and the authorities in Calci are overseeing the evacuation from the mountain villages of Montemagno, Fontana Diana, San Lorenzo, Nicosia and Crespignana.

Reception centres have been set up in local gyms and sports clubs and 50 volunteers are looking after aroiund 500 people who have fled their homes.

Schools in the threatened area have been closed until further notice.

Around 80 firefighters have been tackling the blaze throughout the night.

Special aircraft capable of dumping water onto the fire are on their way to the region.

Fire chiefs and civil protection officers said strong winds were hampering the operation to tackle the wildfire.

There have been no reports of death or injuries but officials fear the flames are about to reach inhabited areas.

A wildfire rages out of control in the Pisano region of Itakly (Image: TWITTER/EMERGENZAVVF)

The fire has raged throughout the night (Image: TWITTER/EMERGENZAFFV)

Official fear the fire could have been started deliberately (Image: ANSA)

Roads in the area have been closed as clouds of thick smoke have caused treacherous driving conditions.

Italian Environment Minister Sergio Costa said: "I thank the firefighters, the Civil Defence and the teams of volunteers who are working to defend the houses.

“It is important to clarify the origin of the fire that destroyed the forest and endangered people's lives.”

Commander Ugo D'Anna of the Pisa Fire Department of Pisa said the fire was probably started deliberately.